Steve Reich, one of the most popular contemporary composers of our time, will turn 90 in October and remains very active, with the Edinburgh Festival celebrating his birthday with the premiere of his new orchestral piece. The legendary American creator’s style has incorporated influences as wide-ranging as modern jazz, Bach, Bartók and traditional percussion music from Africa. To this day, his thinking transcends genres and styles, and he will readily incorporate into his works all that he considers to possess artistic potential, from the peculiar noise music of a large city to the work of Radiohead. With its special concert, the London Sinfonietta, one of the world’s finest contemporary music ensembles, now pays tribute to a composer who has for decades had a decisive influence not only on contemporary music but also on dance, film and the visual arts. The performance of Steve Reich’s emblematic Electric Counterpoint will feature one of the most innovative Hungarian jazz guitarists, Bálint Gyémánt.